Be Satisfied With Me

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone
To have a deep soul relationship with another
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively

But, God, to a Christian says: No, not until you are satisfied, filled and content with being loved by Me alone with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me alone discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.

You will never be united with one another until you are united with Me. Exclusively for anyone or anything else Exclusively for any other desires or longings I want you to stop wishing and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing

One that you cannot imagine I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you.
You must keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am, keep learning the things that I want to tell you. You just wait, wait. That’s all.

Don’t be anxious.
Don’t worry
Don’t look around at the things that others have gotten or that I have given them
Don’t look at the things you think you want

You just keep looking off and away to Me, or you’ll miss what I want to show you , and when you are ready I will surprise you with a love more beautiful than you could dream of. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, You will never be able to experience the great love that is waiting for you (I am working even at this very moment to have both of you ready at the same time)

Until you are both satisfied with Me and the life I’ve prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is the perfect love.
And dear one, I want you to have the most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me and enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly
I am God ………
Believe it and be satisfied.

just when you thought miracles do not happen now

The multiplier effect of faith

It was January 1986. The winter had been brutal already and it was just getting started. We had no money at all. My husband Bill had lost his job earlier the year before. He'd exhausted all of his unemployment benefits. He couldn't find steady work anywhere.

Things were looking pretty bad for us. We'd checked the furniture for change and found none. We did not have one cent to our name. God had always taken good care of us. We were depending on Him to come through now.

All his life Bill had been an avid hunter. Often had it not been for him hunting and selling the fur from hunting, we'd gone without. Bill only had one piece of fur left in the freezer to sell.

Bill took it from the freezer, let it dry out, and brushed it. We needed to get as much money as possible from it. My brother was coming the next day to take me to the doctor. Since we passed the fur buyer on our way, Bill knew Mark would take the fur and sell it for us.

I could see disappointment in his face as Mark handed me the check. He was so disappointed because the fur only brought us five dollars. I said to him, "It's more than what we had."

When I got home, God and I had a talk about that five-dollar check. I asked God, "What on earth am I supposed to do with five dollars? We need food, the rent needs to be paid and the utilities aren't paid, either. What on earth is five dollars going to take care of? What am I supposed to do with it?"

God said, "Give it to Me."

I knew it would take the greatness of God to supply our need. I knew I had to take the step of faith needed and trust God with it. I began to get excited! I wanted to phone our pastor and ask him to start a church service right then. I wanted to get our five dollars in the offering plate as soon as possible.

Sunday morning finally came. I couldn't get dressed for church fast enough, I was so excited about putting our money in the offering plate. I was so anxious to see what God was going to do with it.

Before I even got into the building God began His work. One of the men of the church came to me near the front door and asked if we could use some dog food for our dogs. His dog had run away and had been gone over a week. He was sure the dog wasn't coming back and he said we could have the dog food if we needed it. I gave him a hug and thanked him. Into the church I went, determined to get a seat before services could start.

Finally the offering was taken. I remember sitting there praying, "Father, magnify Yourself. Take this little bit and magnify Yourself and not just to me and my family, but to many, many others. This is all we have and I'm trusting You with it."

After services were over, a dear sister in Christ hugged me and stuck something in my pocket. She said she thought maybe we could use it. I thanked her and hugged her tight even though I didn't know what she'd given me.

When I got to the car and checked my pocket, there was twenty dollars. God had multiplied my five dollars four times already!

The very same afternoon, my folks came to visit. I had never let Dad or Mom know how much of a struggle we had. I didn't want to worry them. They didn't know we had no money and little food. No doubt in my mind God sent them, because when the weather is bad, my folks don't go anywhere.

But here they were with bags of food. God sent us more food than we'd seen in a long time. God gave us Miracle Whip, three loaves of Wonder Bread. There was Eckrich bologna.

I share those three specific things because I want you to see that when God supplies, He gives you quality. It wasn't generic mayo, bologna, or bread. God sent us name brands! With words like "miracle" and "wonder"!

A few days later the bank statement came in the mail. I'd made a fifteen-dollar mistake in our favor. That was a miracle! Usually if a mistake was made, it wasn't in our favor. We had fifteen dollars we didn't know we had, but God knew.

Things began to get better for us. As each day passed God supplied and took care of us from His resources. I'd trusted Him with our last five dollars. From that small step of faith, God continued to give.

Some time later, Bill and I were sitting in church and a brother in Christ walked up to me and stuck a piece of paper in my hand. He said, "I want you to take care of this for me." I said, "Okay," and he just walked away. The piece of paper was a check for five hundred dollars. My mind immediately went back to the five dollars I'd trusted to God. We serve an awesome God!

At first it was dog food, twenty dollars, groceries, and extra money in our checking account. Then came fifty from a complete stranger, then five hundred, then four hundred, and on and on.

Just four years ago in 2001 -- fifteen years later -- God sent us through the mail the $6,000 we needed to purchase the house we now live in. Previously, I had asked one other person I trusted to pray with me about the money we needed for this house. No one else knew of our prayer.

The money did not come from her, but from another sister who was dying from cancer. In the note she wrote, "God told me you needed help buying your house. I want you to take this and use it. After all, it's all His anyway!"

I trusted Him with our last five dollars. And He continues to give!

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury. And many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, "Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." -Mark 12:41-44 (KJV)

Worth of Sacrifice

this video has really touched my heart and im sure it will touch yours also..

Five Great Lessons

1 - Most Important Lesson

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop

quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the

questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the

woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman

several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would

I know

her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would

count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your

careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve

your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'."

"I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was

Dorothy.

2 - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on

the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm.

Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet,

she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to

help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man

took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi

cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and

thanked him.

Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise,

a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was

attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway

the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my

spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to

my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you

for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy

entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass

of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins

in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By

now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing

impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied."

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice

cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on

the table and walked away.

The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the

waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table.

There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five

pennies

-

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough

left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson - The Obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid

himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some

of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply

walked

around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads

clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a

peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the

boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone

to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally

succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he

noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse

contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the

gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The

peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle

presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to

know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious

disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion

from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same

disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the

little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I

saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and

saying,

"Yes, I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed,

he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the

color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile

faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice,

"Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the little boy had

misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his

sister all of his blood in order to save her. You see, after all,

understanding and attitude, are everything.

The Secret to a Lasting Marriage: Embrace Imperfection

When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for

dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage,

and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember Watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!

When I got Up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom

apologize to my dad For burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: 'Baby, I love burned toast.'

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if He really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said,'Debbie, your momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides-a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!'

In bed that night, I thought about that scene at dinner...and the

kindness my daddy showed my mom. To this day, it's cherished memory

from my childhood that I'll never forget. And it's one that came to

mind just recently when Jack and I sat down to eat dinner.

I had arrived home late...as usual...and decided we would have

breakfast food for dinner. Some things never change, I suppose!

To my amazement, I found the ingredients I needed, and quickly began

To cook eggs, turkey sausage, and buttered toast. Thinking I had things under control, I glanced through the mail for the day. It was only a few minutes later that I remembered that I had forgotten to take the toast out of The oven!

Now had it been any other day -- and had we had more than two pieces

Of bread in the entire house -- I would have started all over. But it had been one of those days and I had just used up the last two pieces of bread.

So burnt toast it was!

As I set the plate down in front of Jack, I waited for a comment about the toast. But all I got was a 'Thank you!' I watched as he ate bite by bite, all the time waiting for some comment about the toast. But instead, all Jack said was, 'Babe, this is great. Thanks for cooking tonight. I know you had a hard day.'

As I took a bite of my charred toast that night, I thought about my Mom and dad...how burnt toast hadn' been a deal-breaker for them. And I quietly thanked God for giving me a marriage where burnt toast wasn't a deal-breaker either!

You know, life is full of imperfect things...and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. And you might be surprised to find out that Jack isn't the perfect husband! He likes to play his music too loud. He will always find a way to avoid yard work, and he watches far too many sports. Believe it or not, watching ' GolfAcademy' is not my idea of a great night at home!

But somehow in the past 37 years Jack and I have learned to accept the imperfections in each other. Over time, we have stopped trying to make each other in our own mold and have learned to celebrate our

differences.

You might say that we've learned to love each other for who we really are!

For example, I like to take my time, I'm a perfectionist, and I'm

even-tempered. I tend to work too much and sleep too little. Jack, on the other hand, is disciplined, studious, an early riser, and is a marketer's dream consumer. I count pennies and Jack could care less! Where he is strong, I am weak, and vice versa.

And while you might say that Jack and I are opposites, we're also very much alike. I can look at him and tell you what he's thinking. I can predict these actions before he finalizes his plans. On the other hand,he knows whether I'm troubled or not the moment I enter a room.

We share the same goals. We love the same things. And we are still bestfriends. We've traveled through many valleys and enjoyed many

mountain tops. And yet, at the same time, Jack and I must work every

minute of every day to make this thing called 'marriage' work!

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each

other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences -is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting marriage relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the

good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your married life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a marriage where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker!

By- Deb Graham

Husband & Wife (LOL)

Dear Wife:

I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you forever.
I've been a good man to you for seven years and I have nothing to show for it.

These last two weeks have been hell.
Your boss called to tell me that you quit your job today and that was the last straw.

Last week, you came home and didn't even notice that I had a new haircut, had cooked your favorite meal and even wore a brand new pair of silk boxers.
You ate in two minutes, and went straight to sleep after watching all of your soaps.
You don't tell me you love me anymore; you don't want sex or anything that connects us as husband and wife.

Either you're cheating on me or you don't love me anymore; whatever the case, I'm gone.

Your EX-Husband

P.S. Don't try to find me. Your SISTER and I are moving away to West Virginia together!
Have a great life!



Dear Ex-Husband -

Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter.
It's true that you and I have been married for seven years, although a good man is a far cry from what you've been.

I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your constant whining and griping.
Too bad that doesn't work.

I DID notice when you got a hair cut last week, but the first thing that came to mind was 'You look just like a girl!'
Since my mother raised me not to say anything if you can't say something nice, I didn't comment.

And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY SISTER, because I stopped eating pork seven years ago.

About those new silk boxers: I turned away from you because the $49.99 price tag was still on them, and
I prayed that it was a coincidence that my sister had just borrowed fifty dollars from me that morning.

After all of this, I still loved you and felt that we could work it out. So when I hit the lotto for ten million
dollars, I quit my job and bought us two tickets to Jamaica . But when I got home you were gone.
Everything happens for a reason, I guess.

I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted. My lawyer said that the letter you wrote ensures you won't get a dime from me.
So take care.

Signed,

Your Ex-Wife, Rich As Heaven and Free!


P.S. I don't know if I ever told you this, but my sister Carla was born Carl.
I hope that's not a problem.

Tawa Time! by Bob Ong

Dear Mr. Bob Ong,

Matagal ko na pong nililigawan itong chik na nakilala ko recently sa isang party. Nasisiraan na ako ng bait. Pag nakilala mo siya, tiyak matutunaw ang utak mo sa kakaisip sa kanya.

Hingi lang po ako ng advice. Paano ko po siya mapapaibig? Bibigyan ko ba siya ng tula ? Haharanahin ko ba siya? Roses? Kalachuchi? Chocnut at sampaguita?

In lab na po ako. Ano po ang gagawin ko? Is she the one?

Lubos na gumagalang,
Matt



------------ ------ang reply------- --------- ---
Dear MATT,


Hindi ka talaga sasagutin niyang nililigawan mo. Napaka-old school kasi ng mga tactics mo. Wala nang gumagawa ng ganyan. Sa panahon ngayon, lahat ng bagay, nagtaas na. Nagtaas na ang gasolina, nagtaas na ang presyo ng bigas at mga bilihin, nagtaas na ang pamasahe, at lalong nagtaas na rin ng standards ang mga babae. Hindi na uubra yang siopao at suman mo. Lalo na yung huli mong binigay, hopia at santan. Ano ba pare? Ano'ng era ka ba pinanganak?

Pero don't worry. It's not too late. May pag-asa ka pa. Hindi pa naman siya kinakasal at di pa niya sinasagot yung crush niya na basketball player. Kahit lamang siya ng sampung paligo sa'yo, daanin mo sa utak at creativity. Dahil aminin na natin, iyon na LANG talaga ang pag-asa mo. Heto, bibigyan kita ng mga simple, tried and tested na mga regalo para di siya mapurga sa hopia at siomai. Sundin mo 'to, tiyak na lalaglag ang bagang niya sa'yo. Mga medyo more than your usual regalong panligaw:

1. Bili ka ng century tuna. Ilagay mo sa isang napakalaking box-yung sinlaki ng TV o kaya box ng desktop PC mo. Tapos balutan mo ng magarang pambalot. Kuntsabahin mo na yung teacher niya sa Calculus. Sa gitna ng klase, bigla kang kumatok sa classroom. Pero dapat, incognito ka. Magsuot ka ng LBC jacket, magshades, at magsuot ng surgical mask. Pagpasok mo sa classroom, iabot mo yung box sa teacher, at papirmahin mo ng acknowledgement receipt. Tapos pabuksan mo in front of everyone. Tignan mong mabuti ang reaction sa mukha niya.

Later during the day, pag tinanong niya kung bakit Century Tuna ang binigay mo, iikot mo yung lata at ituro mo yung sign na "Omega 8." Pag tinanong niya kung ano yung Omega 8, sabihin mo: "because you're good for my heart."

2. Mangolekta ka ng isang dosenang hanger na libre mong nakukuha tuwing nagpapa-dry clean ka. Tapos, sa bawat hanger, isulat mo: "I miss hanging out with you."

3. Instead of roses, kuha ka ng tissue paper sa banyo ng school mo. Gawin mong tissue paper roses. Gawa ka ng isang dosena. Pag-abot mo, sabihin mo, "Ganito kalinis ang pag-ibig ko sa'yo."

4. Bili ka ng tetra pack ng mantikang Minola. Tapos bilugan mo yung "with Omega 8." Hindi na siya magtatanong kung bakit.

5. Bigyan mo ng ice cream cone. Dapat cone lang at walang ice cream. Pag hinanap niya yung ice cream, sabihin mo, "natunaw na kakatitig sa'yo."

6. Bili ka ng sandosenang box ng crayola. Kolektahin mo lahat ng black. Lagay mo sa isang box ng crayola. Sa likod, isulat mo: "Walang kulay ang buhay kung wala ka."

7. Bigyan mo siya ng mumurahing bumbilya. Alam mo na siguro by this time kung ano ang isasagot pag tinanong niya kung bakit.

8. Itext mo siya ng: "Hindi tayo tao, hindi tayo hayop, hindi tayo halaman. Bagay tayo. Bagay!"

9. Bigyan mo siya ng calling card ng MMDA. Sa likod, isulat mo "para pag nagkabanggaan ang puso natin."

10. Padalhan mo ng Happy Meal pero huwag mong ibibigay yung libreng laruan. Paghinanap niya, sabihin mo: "Ako yung freebie, at ikaw yung meal na nagpapahappy sa'kin."

11. Sunugin ang kanyang bahay at padalhan ng hallmark card: "aanhin mo pa ang bahay mo, kung matagal ka nang nakatira sa puso ko"

12. Pagkatapos sunugin ang kanyang bahay, padalhan siya ng isang box ng posporo, Guitar brand. unahan ang kanyang galit at sabihin, "ayan ang posporo na ginamit ko sa pagsunog ng iyong bahay, match na tayo"

13. Sa kalagitnaan ng isang malupit na bagyo, pasalubungan sya ng "salbabida", wag payong, o mainit na mami. Pag nagtanong bkt? ang isagot mo ay " ayaw kong malunod ka sa pag mamahal ko."

14. Pag pumayag na siyang makipagdate, dalhin mo siya sa canteen at huwag bibitawan ang kamay. Pag tinanong niya kung bakit, ituro mo yun sign na "don't leave your valuables unattended"

Handang tumulong lagi,
Bob Ong

The DEVIL and the DUCK

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm..


He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.



Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his Sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.




After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes'

But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.'

Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?'

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.'

Sally just smiled and said, 'well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help?

She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'



Thought for the day and every day thereafter:


Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is...You need to know that:
God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.



He has seen your whole life... He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets.



It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.

Share this with a friend and always remember:

God is at the window!


When Jesus died on the cross; he was thinking of you!





If you are one of the 93 % who will stand up for him..

Godbless u all..

Meaningful Definitions

School: A place where Papa pays and Son plays.

Life Insurance: A contract that keeps you poor all your life so that you can die Rich.

Nurse: A person who wakes u up to give you sleeping pills.

Marriage: It’s an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her masters.

Tears: The hydraulic force by which masculine willpower is defeated by feminine waterpower.

Lecture: An art of transferring information from the notes of the Lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through “the minds of either”

Conference: The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.

Compromise: The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.

Dictionary: A place where success comes before work.

Conference Room: A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on.

Father: A banker provided by nature.

Boss: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.

Politician: One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence after.

Doctor: A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by bills.

Classic: Books, which people praise, but do not read.

Office: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.

Yawn: The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.

Etc.: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.

Committee: Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.

Experience: The name men give to their mistakes.

Atom Bomb: An invention to end all inventions.

Philosopher: A fool who torments himself during life, to be wise after death

Smile: A curve that can set a lot of things straight.

Psalm 23 for the workplace

Carl

Carl was a quiet man.

He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake. Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very well.

Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The sight of him walking down the street often worried us. He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WWII.

Watching him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.

When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically un-assuming manner.

Without fanfare, he just signed up. He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened.

He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked, "Would you like a drink from the hose?

The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, "Yeah, sure", with a malevolent little smile.

As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.

Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg.

He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him. Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it.

"Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?" the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet. Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head.

"Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday."

His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water. Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, "Carl, what are you doing? "I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately," came the calm reply.

Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time and place.

A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose. This time they didn't rob him.

They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water. When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done. Carl just watched them.

Then he turned toward the warm giving sun, picked up his hose, and went on with his watering. The summer was quickly fading into fall. Carl was doing some tilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches. As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him.

He braced himself for the expected attack. "Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time."

The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl. As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.

"What's this?" Carl asked.

"It's your stuff," the man explained. "It's your stuff back. Even the money in your wallet."

"I don't understand," Carl said. "Why would you help me now?"

The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. "I learned something from you," he said. "I ran with that gang and hurt people like you. We picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did something to you instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showing love against our hate."

He stopped for a moment. "I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back."

He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. "That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess."

And with that, he walked off down the street. Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.

He died one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather. In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church.

The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do your best and make your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forget Carl and his garden."

The following spring another flyer went up. It read: "Person needed to care for Carl's garden."

The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door.

Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flyer.

"I believe this is my job, if you'll have me," the young man said.

The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl. He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around.

As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, "Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honor him."

The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done.

In that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.

One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, "My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday.

"Well, congratulations!" said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys. "That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?"

"Carl," he replied.